I'm doing great here.  I'm so busy all the time, teaching, meeting people, serving people, dinner appointments, and so many other things.  Well, I won't need a bike.  My companion and I drive around everywhere.  It's really nice.  We also don't have limits on where we can go.  Normally, a companionship is stuck in an area, but my companion and I can go anywhere we want.  We can even leave the San Jose Mission area.  As long as we're doing work.  

Something really funny happened on Friday.  Elder Horlacher and I were getting ready for bed when someone called us on the VP.  It was Emerald Brown, a 20 year old black deaf potential investigator.  We set up an appointment to meet her at the train station.  Before she hung up, she wanted to talk to Elder Horlacher.  Emerald said "On August 25, do you want to go to Prom with me?"  I laughed so hard.  Elder Horlacher got asked to Prom.  It was really awkward for him.  He said "Ummm, well I can't.  I'm serving a 2 year mission.  I'm teaching about Jesus Christ."  I don't think Emerald understands what we're doing.  We'll try and explain when we meet.  

I'll send more emails later.  I'll probably send my memory card today or tomorrow.  I want to take a couple more pictures before I send it.

Love, Elder Giles

(When his mom and dad read about "Prom with me", they were laughing. It is so FUNNY!)

18 June, 2012

Now I finally have time to send you a good e-mail.

 

I arrived in San Jose around 10:00.  I was all by myself on the airplane.  I had no companion.  It was really weird because I was used to the MTC and always having a companion.  People were nice to me.  One guy even bought me a bottle of water.  At the airport in San Jose, I met President Watkins and the two assistant presidents.  President Watkins is really nice.  He drove me to the mission office in San Jose and there I met my 2 companions.  Elder Horlacher and Elder Nelson.  Elder Nelson tried to pretend he was deaf, but President Watkins already told me that my companions were hearing.  I played along with Elder Nelson.  It was funny, we all entered the President's office to meet with him.  President Watkins was so confused why Elder Nelson couldn't talk.  Watkins was used to talking to Elder Nelson.  President Watkins kept asking "Are you ok?  Did you bite your tongue?  Why can't you talk?"  Finally Elder Nelson gave up.   Elder Horlacher's parents are famous like my mom and dad.  His mom and dad's names are Paul and Kim Horlacher.  I came to the Fremont Deaf Branch and pretty much everyone said "Wow!  You're Bobby and Liz's son?  WOW  I know them."  Everyone was excited.  I saw The Wesloh Family, Pina, Kathleen Ireland, and many more.  I can't remember their names right now, but they said they know you. 

 

The Fremont Deaf Branch had just had it's 30th anniversary of the branch being set up.  We had a BBQ and a fireside.  It was really good. 

I love you all.  I hope you will send me letters soon.

From Elder Giles

2 June 2012

Things are going well. The past week I've been having problems. I've have been having nose bleeds 2 or 3 times a day. I got sick of it, so I went to the Doctor. They gave me a humidifier. It's really cool. My nose feels great and I haven't had a nose bleed in a while.

I'll be leaving the MTC in 2 weeks. June 13th is the day I fly to San Jose. I'm getting excited, but more nervous. Elder Barwell, one of my companions, is leaving June 5th, next Tuesday. He's packing as I write this letter. He's going to San Diego. I think he's going to have a rough start to his mission. He said his mission was going to be 2 years of vacation. It's not vacation.

I finally got my first letter from Elder Woodhouse. I really like getting mail. I'll send my memory card when I get to the field. I want to take more pictures.

I'm getting sick of  the MTC,  it feels like I've been here forever. (His mom's mind says "Awwww him")

Love,

Elder Giles